INSTANT VIEW 1-Slovak Aug trade gap above fcasts

...billion 
in July, the Statistics Office said on Friday. 
*************************************************************** 
 
KEY POINTS: 
FOREIGN TRADE         AUG 07        AUG 07 FCAST 
 (SKK bln) 
 Balance              -7.565           -3.0 
  (Full table of data.......................[ID:nPRG000539]) 
 
    NOTE: The market had expected a trade deficit of 3.0 billion 
crowns in August, according to a Reuters survey of analysts 
earlier this month  . 
 
- The Statistics Office did not release a detailed breakdown of 
August trade data. 
- The July balance was revised to a deficit of -2.510 billion 
crowns from a previously reported gap of 1.782 billion. 
- The Statistics Office also revised full-year 2006 trade 
figures to a deficit of -75.256 billion crowns, from the 
previously reported gap of 93.100 billion. 
     
    MARKET REACTION 
    The Slovak crown was slightly weaker after the foreign trade 
data, trading at 33.610 to the euro , from 33.550 
earlier in the session. 
     
BACKGROUND: 
- Slovakia's foreign trade deficit widened in 2006, mainly due 
to rising imports of equipment needed for investment projects 
such as car factories of PSA Peugeot Citroen  and Kia 
Motors . 
- But the external balance is improving in 2007 as two car 
assembly plants boost their export-oriented production. 
  
LINKS 
- For further details on July foreign trade and other 
past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Slovak 
Statistics Office's website: 
    http://portal.statistics.sk/showdoc.do?docid=359 
 
- For LIVE Slovak economic data releases, click on...... 
- Schedule of upcoming indicator releases............ 
- Summary of short-term economic data forecasts...... 
 
- Stories on Slovak currency moves........................[SKK/] 
- Slovak speed money guide .............................. 
- Slovak benchmark state bond prices ................. 
- Slovak forward money market rates .................... 
 

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]